Rating and value 2024 of Hiroshige prints and etchings

If you own a work by or based on the artist Hiroshige and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers can help you. Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on the current market. Then, if you wish to sell your work of art, we will guide you towards the best possible means of obtaining the best possible price.

Artist's rating and value

Hiroshige is a popular artist and highly rated on the auction market. His works arouse keen interest among collectors and art lovers, particularly those who appreciate 19th-century Japanese engraving. The most sought-after pieces are prints. For example, a work by Hiroshige can fetch thousands of euros at auction, like his print From the upright Tokaido series, which sold for €17,190 in 2001, whereas it was estimated at between €11,460 and €13,100. 

Order of value from the most basic to the most prestigious

Artist's style and technique

Hiroshige was a Japanese artist who produced engravings and prints combining ancient Chinese techniques and woodcuts. He drew most of his inspiration from Japanese landscapes and myths.  

Hiroshige's career   

Hiroshige (1797 - 1858) was a Japanese printmaker.

Born in Edo, Utagawa Hiroshige learned to paint as a child. He lost his parents at the age of 14, and took over his father's job as a fireman. At the same time, he studied in Toyohiro's studio, where he learned landscape etching. He took over the studio when his master died. He produces series on the major cities of eastern China.

In particular, he produced a series of 55 prints linking the stages from Edo to Kyoto, a journey designed to present gifts to the Emperor. Thanks to the development of transportation networks, the engraver enjoyed great success from the 1830s, when the city of Kyoto was booming.

Hokusai popularized the genre of landscape painting, which also increased Hiroshige's success with the general public. During this period, he developed a technique that allowed for gradation through the absence of motifs. He inscribed haikus (Japanese poems) on some of his prints.

Hiroshige died in Edo, 1858.

Hiroshige's imprint on his period

Today, Hiroshige is recognized as one of the most influential Japanese artists of the 19th century. His prints are highly prized by collectors and are a great success at auction. His unique style, blending ancient Japanese influences and poetry, is particularly appreciated and sought-after today. Some of his works are exhibited in museums in Japan, but private collectors play a major role in preserving his work. His value has been rising in recent years.  

His signature

Not all of Hiroshige's works are signed. It's also possible that the work is a copy, or that the signature has faded over time, which is why expert appraisal is essential.

Appraising your property

If you own a work by Hiroshige, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal by filling in our online form. A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you to provide an estimate of the market value of your work.

If you are considering selling your work, our specialists will also guide you through the various alternatives available to obtain the best possible price, taking into account market trends and the specific features of each work.